How Duct Cleaning & Repair Improves IAQ and Efficiency

March 26, 2018

The air ducts in your Childersburg, AL home are what keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter and are vital to your indoor comfort. Although duct cleaning isn’t something that Alabama homeowners need to do every year, periodic cleaning can enhance your indoor air quality and the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

Duct Cleaning and Duct Repair Clear the Air

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, households generate up to 40 pounds of dust each year through everyday activities. Add to that dander from pets, leaky ductwork that allows outside pollutants to seep in, and contaminants from remodeling projects, and you have a lot of indoor pollutants floating around in your air. These pollutants get sucked into your ductwork; each time your HVAC system kicks on, these particles recirculate through your home. Duct repair to seal leaks and periodic cleaning remove these pollutants from your home, improving your indoor air quality and reducing the triggers for allergies, asthma attacks, and other respiratory problems.

Clean Air Ducts Let Your HVAC System Relax

As contaminants collect in your ductwork, the buildup restricts the airflow in your HVAC system. When your system has to fight for air, it ends up working harder and wasting energy. The EPA reports that a buildup as low as .042 inches decreases HVAC efficiency by up to 20 percent.

Decreased airflow also interferes with the variable-speed motors used in today’s HVAC systems and contributes to a frozen evaporator coil. Although high-efficiency air conditioners can protect against freeze-up by reducing the refrigerant cycling through your system, this creates other problems that reduce efficiency: less air flow, less cooling of the air, and reduced dehumidification.

Keeping an eye on your ductwork helps prevent adverse health risks and increases your HVAC efficiency. To learn more about how clean ductwork improves comfort in your home, check out the duct repair and cleaning services we offer or call our comfort specialists at (205) 289-3413.